Light at end of the tunnel for YouView

The much criticised and much delayed YouView project may now be entering its final pre-launch phase with the commencement of the first public trials.

Reports in The Financial Times have revealed that a so-called alpha trial of some 350 homes has just been agreed last week by the YouView board headed by Alan Sugar who as far back as March 2011 was drafted in to get back on track a project that has been beset by delays and other setbacks, since inception almost three years ago.

Two weeks ago, as it announced its yearly financial results and looking ahead to the coming twelve months, TalkTalk—one of the original partners of the subscription-free on demand TV project along with the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, Cisco, Humax, Technicolor and Arqiva—revealed that YouView project would likely launch in September 201.

In its report, the FT stated that internal trials of the YouView set top box have concluded and the device will now see testing among a broader viewing audience. The newspaper quotes the consortium is claiming that it has already received hundreds of requests from people wanting to try out its box which is likely to cost around £200 at launch.